Table and apparatus for invalids



N. PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPNER WASH NGToN D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN USTIGK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TABLE AND APPARATUS FOR lNVALlDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,807, dated September 5, 1865.

To alt whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, STEPHEN USTICK, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Table and Apparatus for Invalids; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan or top view of the table and its connections. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same at the red line a b of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top View of the slide H. Fig. 4.- is a side elevation of the crank L.

Like letters in all the gures indicate the same parts.

The nature of my invention will be understood by the following description:

I construct the bracket-frame A, which I secure tirmly to the foot-rail of a bedstead or to the foot board or posts, as may be most convenient, by means of screws through one ofthe holes in each of the uprights b b, there being a plurality of holes, for the purpose of adjusting the bracket to any height required. There are bars B B joined at one end to the horizontal pieces c c of the bracket, as represented in Figs. l and 2. The projecting ends of the said bars support the table C, which is used for any convenient purpose by the invalid. For the purpose of preserving the lateral position of the table there are lugs, d, on its under side which corne inside of the bars B B, the said bars having a cross bar or rail, D, connected at their projecting end, which preserves their parallelism. When the table is not wanted in use it may be pushed on the arms c c of the bracket, and the bars B B ma-y be turned up out of th way, as represented by red lines in Fig. 2. When great stability is required to the table there may be short legs to the projecting legs of the bars B B, which shall rest on the side rails of the bedstead or on the bed; or the bars may have a support on uprights fastened to the side rails, or be extended in length and rest on lugs or other device attached to the head-posts. The table O has longitudinal grooves or ways F F in its edges for the connection of various devices for the use of invalids. Otherforms of grooves or projectin g ways may be used instead when desired. Gr is a book-support, composed of the L-shaped piece f and the upright g. ment in the dovetailed slide H, (see Figs. 2 and It has a vertical adjust- 3,) by means ofthe pin t and holes j. The said slide is movable to any point of the edge of the table G by means of the dovetail 7c, which has an easy fit in the grooveway F.

I is a writing-board, which, when used for that purpose, is placed in the position represented by red lines in Fig. 2, the rabbet L resting on the upper corner of the ledge m of the rest G, the ledge m being made higher than is otherwise required, so as to bring the board on a suitable angle for writing. When the board is not wanted for writing itmay lay flat on the board f, as represented in cross-section. In this position it would act as a support for a book, or it may be removed from the piece f and the latter be used directly for a book-support. In the under side of the board I, I insert the looking-glass J, which is used by reversing the board.

I form a portable reel for winding skeins of thread by combining the spools l 2 3 with the dovetailed slides K K K by means of the pins n n n, the said slides being movable iu the way F to any part of the table, and of the requisite distances apart. The thread is placed on the spools l and 2,and is wound on the spool 3 by means of the crank I, which is easily attached and detached by means ofthe pins p q, which fit corresponding holes in the spools. The crank is shown in detail in Fig. 4.

The cross rail or bar D is provided with a way, F, similar and of the saine dimensions as those in the edges of the tables C, and to be used for the same purposes when desired, when it is preferred lo let the table remain on the bracket A.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the bars B B with the bracket A for the support; of the table C, when the said bracket is conneetedwith a bedstead, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the book-support G, writing-board I, and looking-glass J with the table C by means of the slide H and way F, substantially in the manner above set forth.

In testimony that the above is my invention I have hereunto setmyhand and affixed my seal this 5th day of July, 1865.

STEPHEN USTIOK.

IL si 

